The Commitment
Identify Sustainability Team
Within two months of signing the commitment the firm will establish a team or leader to guide the development of the firm’s sustainability efforts and implementation of its commitment plan.
Immediate Operational Actions
Within six months of signing the commitment, the firm will implement a minimum of four operational action items from the list provided. These actions will be undertaken while the long-term sustainability plan is in development.
Sustainability Action Plan
Within one year of signing the commitment, the firm must develop a long range sustainability action plan that aligns with the stated 2030 benchmarks for achieving carbon neutrality. While action plans will differ from firm to firm, a successful sustainable action plan should address the following aspects:
Develop Sustainable Design Goals
Set quantifiable design goals for every project regardless of whether required by the client.
- Design projects to reduce the amount of fossil-fuel based energy used to align with 2030 goals
- Reduce the amount of potable water used in all projects
- Improve indoor air quality (IAQ) through the elimination of hazardous materials used in all projects
- Have every project undergo a green building evaluation whether the project is seeking certification or not
- Document all projects in case study format with consistent criteria to help measure performance and progress
Institute Staff Training and Education
- Ensure staff is invested in the firm’s sustainable design goals and can contribute to the success.
- Determine a minimum amount of staff training and education on sustainable design issues
- Provide support for staff to attend conferences and education programs focusing on sustainable design programs
- Implement programs that recognize individual and team sustainable design contributions
Evaluate the Design Process
Engage in a design process that is multidisciplinary, collaborative, goal-oriented, and metric driven:
- Use an integrated design process that promotes early involvement of stakeholders and engages in collaborative design process
- Use life-cycle cost analysis and consider the life-cycle effects of the materials and systems used in a project
- Develop metrics for sustainable design goals at the outset of the project. Green building rating systems such as LEED or Green Globes can be a useful tool
- Develop consistent measurement standards for building and site design performance
- Create feedback procedures to gather information about building performance that include things such as meters, sensors, controls, and post-occupancy evaluations
Sustainable Operations
Develop a sustainable operations plan that sets goals aimed at reducing the negative impact of firm operations related to:
- Office Energy Use
- Waste Reduction and Supplies
- Transportation
- Meetings
Develop a Business Strategy
Develop a business strategy that communicates why a sustainable design approach is important and why the firm is qualified:
- Put together information that supports the value of the firm’s sustainable design services (include information on projects costs, operating costs, and occupant satisfaction)
- Develop marketing materials that highlight the sustainable design aspects of the firm: define the design philosophy; list accredited staff; highlight benefits of sustainable design, etc…
- Make your sustainable actions and operations available to clients
Report Progress
Make the sustainability action plan available by providing them to the AIA for posting and commit to annual progress reports
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